Eight months of Chemo and 28 days of radiation
For Everything There is a Season
A Time to Be ILL and a Time to Be HEALED - I AM AN 8-YEAR SURVIVOR
It has been eight years ago to this very month that I’m submitting the final documentation of my Journey of Fear, A Walk of Faith and a Second Chance. Now I can finally add, REMISSION and I AM AN 8-YEAR SURVIVOR, which I consider to be a “state of amazing grace” with bountiful thanksgiving.
I can only tell you of my experience – seldom, if ever, does any illness or result affect everyone the same. But I can truly say, that because of the support of my wonderful family, my awesome medical team, my caring friends and my spiritual faith, I never felt alone, lonely nor ready to give up in spite of the surgery and reshaping of my upper torso, the temporary effects of the chemo, the discoloration from the radiation treatments, nor the lymphedema. Bottom line, I am a SURVIVOR.
So now it time for chemo. My treatments began in February 2002 and I chose to go on Monday mornings at 7:30am. I took my walkman to listen to inspirational music. That really helped a lot. The slow dripping chemo infusions took anywhere from 3 to 3.5 hours. I was scheduled to go every two weeks. On many occasions, my treatment was postponed because the drugs used for chemotherapy are so very potent. The drugs not only destroy cancerous cells, they also destroy the white blood cells – which is your immune system. When the white cells crashed, the solution to this was, of course, an infusion of another drug. My dear sister, Alda, who used to be a lab tech and was accustomed to giving shots, would come over about 5:00 p.m. each day to administer the shot. I did not have the nerve to self-administer this very painful shot.
Well, after three chemo treatments, in March, my hair began to get brittle and dry. When I woke up in the morning, I began to see stands of hair on my pillow. So I knew it was beginning to happen—the dreaded fallout. I took one last look at my hair, pulled it back in a ponytail, and cut it off to about one inch from the scalp. Before I did this, I did decide to go out and buy wigs that were very similar to my own hair. When the hair completely fell out, I cried, even though by then I was wearing wigs.
Regardless of how I felt, I would get up early in the morning, shower, and put my make-up on. By then my eyelashes and eyebrows were gone too.
Each time when a devastating physical adversity occurred, Nya would say, “You’re still my beautiful Mom and I know you will be alright.” My husband, Larry, tried to convince me that he liked my baldhead and that I looked great with a baldhead. (Yeah, right – I am not that bold). Not only did the hair from the head fall out, my eyebrows, my eyelashes and hair everywhere (I looked as if I had jumped into a big hot tub of wax)
Because chemo kills good and bad cells, some of the my other devastating effects of chemotherapy included: my fingernails and toenails turning black and two of my toe nails falling off (they did grow back). My eyes were very sensitive to light, I had anxiety spells, my gums were sore, I got tired easily, and some days I didn’t have an appetite.
One day my oldest daughter Migdalia and her daughter Shantey came by. I had just decided to experiment with wearing false eyelashes. I had never worn false eyelashes before and I did not know how to put them on properly. The eyelash glue was not working and the eyelash was crooked and just hanging on the eyelid. Migdalia could not help but to laugh – she kept apologizing, though. I did look funny and had to laugh at myself. Well, needless to say, that was the last time I tried to wear fake eyelashes. Migdalia finally said, “Mom, I love you just the way you are.”
Most of the chemo treatments were administered during the spring and summer months. I was prompted to stay out of bright and prolonged sunlight (it made me feel somewhat sick). I was also encouraged to get lots of rest, moderate exercise, drink lots of water, and be conscientious of a good wholesome nutritional program – which meant eating the right food; avoiding too many products made with white sugar (sweets, candy, soda,) and lighten up on the fried foods and junk foods. I ate lots of dark colored fruits such as purple grapes, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, whole-grain breads, etc. and all foods that were loaded with antioxidants.
I was off from work with benefits from January through July. I went back to work in August knowing that I was going to retire in September. I would leave during the day (on Mondays) for a chemo treatment and take the next day off. I had enough service with the State to retire with full medical benefits and a great retirement package.
I had GOOD days and GREAT days. I never claimed to have a bad day. No matter what happened I did all I could to keep my mind focused. As long as the treatments were working, no matter how I felt, I tried to stay optimistic and determined to continue the fight for my life. I wanted to LIVE! Finally, my sisters and brothers, the day came when I received my last chemo treatment. So far – so good!
So now, it’s late October and time for Radiation Treatments. Radiation is used in the concentrated area where the malignancy occurred – while chemotherapy treatments are designed to travel throughout the body to track down stray cancerous cells that might be traveling throughout the body.
I received my 28-day (Monday-Friday) Radiation treatments at The Polyclinic Pinnacle Health in Harrisburg from the excellent team of Dr. Newton, Dr. Sewell, their caring nurses and the wonderful staff of Radiation technicians.
Each treatment only took about 30 minutes (including prep-time). Each time I went, I was in and out so very quickly. Radiation was administered in the area of the mastectomy and on my back. The first day, Larry took me – but because the treatments were not harsh and I was feeling great, most of the time, I drove myself. This gave me a sensational sense of an astronomical independence. (YIPPEE!—I’m me again). I got through the radiation treatments right on schedule. Some days, (now it is December 2002) I was very tired, seemed very prone to catching colds, but because I was retired and did not have to work, I had all the time to rest and relax.
That year, Nya did most of my Christmas Shopping because the cold air really seemed to bother me a lot. We had a lovely Christmas, I was feeling great, my family felt a sense of relief and it was great to know that I had successfully finished the treatments and we all felt a sense of optimism that everything was going to be alright.
There is only one outward indication of this illness that you might notice about me. Because the majority of my lymph glands were removed in my left armpit, I developed a disorder in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system transports fluids throughout the body that may contain bacteria and viruses. When there is a shortage of lymph glands, it prohibits the normal process of removing these toxins from the area. This causes the arm to swell because fluid cannot circulate as it should. Sometimes, I wear a prescription elastic sleeve or glove – have to be careful about using my left arm too much (heavy lifting, etc.) Some types of clothing I cannot wear; however, despite the swollen arm and minor limitations, I was given a second chance and I count my blessings.
Thanks to my remarkable and vigilant family members: Larry, Nya, Bill, Alda, Rose, Annette, Connie, Migdalia, and Shantey; to my many dear friends, and extended family, and my spiritual praying partners, and my medical team who nurtured and encouraged me.
Special Thanks to the outstanding and marvelous CKCU who cares enough to step in a direction that offers credence to charitable works. Your assistance through your thoughtfulness, dedication, hard work, impressive multi-talents and support conveys a blend of merging tradition with the new wave through your unique sparkle and astute consciousness deeds that only you can deliver. Although Research Labs and Medical Teams are making remarkable strides and progress to treat, cure, and obliterate this overwhelming disease, I firmly believe that the secret ingredient to surviving comes when people such as CKCU gives that special TOUCH of T.L.C. (letting us know that we are not alone). That too, promotes extraordinary healing results.
And, if any one of you are among those who have taken this journey, or if you know someone who is on a similar journey please tell them “don’t give up – keep hope alive – each day is a gift -- keep the faith – miracles are still among us.” This I truly know because, I AM A SURVIVOR and I WANT YOU TO BE TOO!
Love to All,
Anita
